Miss. St Game is HUGE for UK

by Adam Griggs ·
Published October 20, 2017
· Updated October 24, 2017

There’s been a good amount of distraction for UK fans in recent weeks. The beloved basketball team is primed and ready to hit the floor for the exhibition segment of their season starting tonight, which always pulls a little attention away from the football team. And though our spirits were crushed after the Florida loss, the scoundrels in the Louisville athletic department gave us a band-aid and some numbing cream with their latest scandal. Watching Pitino and Jurich get fired and their football team lose games it shouldn’t has been nice, but it’s time to move our focus onto our football cats.

Drake Jackson has been a welcomed addition at starting center, and improves with each series.

So, what’s the best way for the football team to keep attention while UK basketball is going and the dumpster fire that is Louisville athletics stay in the news? WINNING. Sitting at 5-1 at the halfway point of the season is a rare feeling for us. It’s unfamiliar to the point that many fans don’t even know how to enjoy it. Currently, UK sits as a 13 point underdog to Mississippi State, which in my opinion, is absurd. The bulldogs had a monstrous win over LSU a few weeks ago, but have seemed kind of ho-hum since. Here’s what needs to happen for UK to take it to the Vegas spread and come out on top on Saturday…

Stephen Johnson is a winner. His numbers don’t always look like Lamar Jackson’s, but he finds ways to win close games. His ability to spread the ball to multiple receivers frees up a lot of room for guys like Lynn Bowden to get touches in space.

Lynn Bowden shows he is more than just juke moves with a mean stiff arm against Missouri.

I look for Bowden to continue getting some looks either in wildcat or quick routes, and his first TD as a Wildcat is certainly looming.

I also think CJ Conrad is about to have a blowup performance. The past couple games, he’s been held to practically zero offensive production, but he’s still getting snaps and the passes will come to him while Bowden, Juice Johnson, and Blake Bone continue to make big plays.

We are finally looking more healthy on the defensive side of the ball too. Jordan Jones is on the depth chart and will likely see a lot of time on the field in Starkville. I am a big fan of Jordan Jones’ energy and leadership. After the disappointing loss to Florida, I was near a group of players who had their heads down low and Jordan walked up to them to offer encouragement, but it was obvious he was very upset himself. A guy like that sitting on the sidelines just gets more hungry, and it’s going to be like watching a beast be unleashed on Saturday.

Turn down your TV if the cowbells wear on your nerves, but be sure to tune in to watch the Cats beat the Bulldogs 34-30.